Shade construction



A. c. HOUGH SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 15, 1923 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 Y v ,7 7" I V W INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY.

Jan. 27, 1925.

A. C. HOUGH SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

1 v D I iii/i; uniaiipeim. #:ifi m lllii255 111,925?! ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES P TENrorricE.

AZEL C. HOUGH, OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HOUGI-I SHADE CORPORA- TION, OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SHADE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 15, 1923. Serial No. 680,958.

I 0 all to 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, AZEL C. HoUeH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of J anesville, in the county of Rock and State of l/Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Shade Construction, of which the following is a. specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shades, of the woven-slat type and commonly known as porch shades, and resides in a construction wherein combined overlapping and spacing or separating, auxiliary slats or weft units are incorporated with the ordinary slats or weft units, such auxiliary weft unlts being of a character and so arranged relative to the other weft units that light is prevented from passing through the structure, but air is not excluded, all as hereinafter set forth.

Many ineffectual and unsuccessful attempts have heretofore been made to produce a shade construction which would exclude the light without excluding the air. Such a shade construction I have now produced, and the primary object of my invention resides in such production. In this shade construction light from any angle impinges on some part of the non-refiecting wood, of which the weft units consist, and consequently is prevented from passing through from one side to the other of the structure, and this in spite of the fact that the weft units are spaced apart or separated by portions of the warp units which are located between said weft units, and air is terstices thus formed.

A further object is to provide a shade construction of this character which can be rolled and unrolled like the ordinary shade construction, although on one side only, this alone being necessary. The introduction of my construction into a shade does not, therepermitted freely to circulate through the infore, impair the usefulness of said shade, or

interfere with the necessary functioning of the same.

Another object is to produce a light-proof shade construction which may be utilized in part or in whole in the manufacture of shades of the woven-slat type, of which the following are examples; A shade which is light proof in its entirety; a shade which is light proof only in part, or which has lightproof part-s less than the whole; a shade which has a light-proof part or parts, another part or parts of ordinary formation, and a part or parts of so-called ventilating character, wherein the weft units are spaced farther apart than in the ordinary formation; and a shade which has only ventilating and light-proof portions. 7

These and other objects and advantages I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of a wovensslat shade which embodies a practical form of my light-proof construction; Fig. 2, an end elevation of said shade construction; F ig. 3, an elevation of the opposite side of the portion of shade shown'in the first view; Fig. 4, a vertical section through, said portion of said shade, said section being taken through slotted parts of the combined overlapping and spacing weft units; Fig. 5, aperspective, sectional view of a fragment of one of said combined overlapping and spacing weft units; Fig. 6, a perspective view of a complete shade which has at the bottom a lightproof section and at'the top a ventilating section, and, Fig. 7, a similar view of a shade which is of ordinary construct-ion except in the lower portion wherethere is a light-proof section, the intermediate portion of the shade being omitted.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an outside elevation, and Figs. 3, 6, and 7 are inside elevations, inasmuch as the new shade construction can be] rolled, to the best advantage at least, as will hereinafter more fully appear, only on the side presented in said last-named views, and porch shades are rolled on the inside.

An ordinary slat shade consists of a plurality of weft units made of thin wooden strips or slats, as 1, and a plurality, of warp units made of fabric strands or cords, as 2, the intermediate warp units generally com.- prising two cords and the end warp units four cords, although these numbers may be varied. The weft units 2 are interwoven with the warp units 1, passing on opposite sides of and between said weft units. The same method of interweaving is preferably employed in connection with the new shade construction. I do not, however, desire or bottom weft unit 1, as the case maybe, and additional slats 33. secured to such weftunit on opposite sides thereof. The weft units 1 may be, wide or narrow, as desired. Sometimes both. wide and narrow weft units arepresent in the same shade.

Frequently it is desired to provide ashade with special ventilating 1neans,,and, in such event, the weft unitsl are spaced apart. to a greater extent than in.the ordinary or more common; weave orconstruction. This extra wide spacing may be effected by crossing the warp units2 bet-ween the-weft units 1, and twisting the two strands of each warp unit together one ormore timesas may be necessar instead of. merely passing each strand fr'om one side of a. weft unit tothe other side of the adjacent weft unit. An example of the ventilating section of a shade is represented iii-Fig. 6, Usually the narrow weft-units enter into the'const ruction of the ventilating section, and such section is atthe upper endof the shade the better to facilitate the egress of the hot-air which rises to the ceiling of the porch.

v The parts andmembers thus far described in more. or less detailare in and of themselves old and well known. Passing, now, to the new, light-proofconstruction, and referring more particularly to the first live views, it will be seen't'hat said construction comprises, with a plurality ofordinarywarp units 2 and weft units 1, a plurality of-spe cially constructed, auxiliary weft units 4, or such a weft unit (4) for the space between each pair of weft units 1 in tliatportionof a shade which itis desired to .render light proof. Each of these auxiliary or combined spacing, and overlapping weft units is providedon one, side inthe longi: tudinal center. with. an integral flange, rib, or bar, and has upwardly anddownwardly extending, integral projections or flanges Thebar or rib 5 and the flanges 6 ex tend the entire length of. the-weftnnit e l. Thus, in end elevationor cross section, the auxiliary weft unit is generally T-shaped. Therib 5fof each auxiliaryv weft unit i is adapted tobe receivedbetweenthe adjacent, longitudinal edges of two of the ordinary weft units l, and thefiangesfi of said aux.- iliary weft unit are adapted to extend above and below such. edges on one side (the outside) of said ordinary weft units. The thickness of the rib 5 is approximately equal to the combined thickness of one of the weft warp; units 2;

Each auxiliary weft unit a has a; plurality of transverse slots 7 therein. Each slot 7 is cut in the weft unit 4 from the outside thereof to a depth that leaves, between the inner face of the-rib 5 of said weftunit and the inner side-of said slot which is parallel with said face, a thickness of material that is approximately equal to the thickness of one of the weft units 1. In other words, each slot 7 iscut through the flanged portion of the weft unit eintot-he rib 5 of said weft unit far enough, and'onlv' far enough approximately, to leaveof the aforesaid thickness-that part-of said weft unit which isin front of said slot. Such thickness is indicated by the numeral-'8 with which the part in question isdesignated-.3 Provision is thus made for locating the part 8 in the same planewiththe weft units 1 during the weavin-g. operation, andfor maintaining such part in: such position or relationship. There are asmanyslotsT in each Weft unit 4 as there arewarp units 2, and said slots are properly spaced to receive said warp units.

Upon referring to Fig. 4, and'following downwardly thecourseof the. two cords or strands of the warp unit 2 therein appearing, thev manner in which the parts and members are woven togetherwill be-clearly understood. The two warp strands pass downwardly on opposite sidesof the part 8 of the uppermostauxiliaryweft unit 4, with the outer, which isthe left hand, strand in the slot 7 in said weft unit, cross-in opposite directions beneath said partrand between the same and the ordinary weft unit 1 immediately below, the inner strand then passing to the left and the-outerstrandto the right. pass downwardly on opposite sides of said ordinary weft unit, cross again in opposite directions, this time below the bottom edge of saidordinary weft unit and between said edge and the upper edge of the part 8 of thenext weft unit 4 below, pass down on opposite sidesof'the part 8'of said secondnamed auxiliary weft unit, and cross beneatlr the bot-tom edge of said last-named part! 8, continuing downwardly on opposite sides ofthe weft units and crossing between the same, until the structure is complete. The weave thus produced corresponds in all essential respectswith. that commonly used in slat-shade construction. Iti-may be noted, in passing, that the samejwarp strand passes on thejoutersides offltheparts :Sand on the inner sidesof the weft} units 1. while the other strand passes on the inner sides of said parts and" on theouter sidesof said weft units; l

The ordinary weft units 1 are spaced apart from each other a. suflicient distance to receive between them the parts 8 ,of the auxiliary weft units aand the crossovers of thewarpunits 2, theflanges ,6 of said aux. iliary weft .units v are? separated from the outer sides of adjacent portions of the ordinary weft units by said'warp units, and all of the weft units are maintained in the relative positions described by said warp units. It is clearly to be seen, therefore, that. air can pass freely between the adjacent edges of the weft units 1 andthe ribs 5, and between the adjacent portions of said weft units and the flanges 6, except where the warp units 2 lie between the parts as in the case of the ordinary construction, but that it is impossible for light to pass through from either the outside or the inside of the woven structure, inasmuch as there is no uninterrupted or straight path from one side to the other, and no reflecting surface. It follows, therefore, that a shade or any part thereof which is made up in the manner just described is absolutely light proof yet permits air to circulate through the same.

lVit-hout the slots 7 in the auxiliary weft units 4, it would be necessary to carry the warp units 2 over the outside of said weft units, with the result that the weft units would not be properly positioned relative to the associated weft units '1, the structure would be too thick and bulky, and it is doubtful if such structure would be practicable in other respects. By slotting the weft units 4 the above-mentioned objections are overcome. Since the ribs 5 of the weft-units 4 are in the same vertical plane with the weft units 1,. the only thickness added to the structure by said weft units 4 is that of the flanges 6.

The auxiliary weft units 4 present no obstacle to the act of rolling the shade structure up or down from or on the inside. This is so because the joints between the weft units .1 and 4 are free to open or expand on, the outside, in front of the flanges 6.

In the example herein illustrated, the auxiliary weft units 4 are narrower than the associated weft units 1, but this is of no importance except inv so far as a better con struction due to such condition may be produced.

The shade illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises an intermediate portion of ordinary construction, with a ventilating portion above and a light-proof portion below, and is ideal for use where it is desired to exclude the light from a bed, and to afford ample ventilation, while at the same time furnishing the necessary protection from observation.

More often, perhaps, a shade such as that illustrated in Fig. 7 will be used. This shade is rendered light proof at the bottom, and is otherwise of the usual ordinary or closely-woven construction. This shade, like the other shade, is useful on sleeping porches, and either is serviceable in excluding the light from a table, and from the porch generally up to the level of the top of the light-proof section. The Fig. 7 shade being unprovided with a ventilating section is a complete screen throughout ltS'elltll'fi height. 7

The light-proof section need not necesare, therefore, factors which increase the stability and prolong the life of the shade construction.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction and arrangement of some or all ofthe parts and members of this invention, in addition to those hereinbefore specifically pointed out, may bemade without departing from the spirit of said'invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed. a

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In shade construction, a weft unit having on one side projecting parts adapted to overlap adjacent edge portions of other weft units, and being. transversely slotted through such parts from the plain side.

2. In shade construction, a weft unit having on one side upper and under projections adapted to overlap adjacent edge portions of other weft units, and being transversely slotted through such parts from the plain side.

In shade construction, a weft unit having on one side a projection adapted to be received between two other weft units, and on the other side projections which extend above and below said first-named projection, and being transversely slotted through said second-named projections from the plain side.

4.111 shade construction, a weft unit having on one side transversely slotted lapping projections substantially as shown.

5. In shade construction, a weft unit having on one side a spacing projection and on the other side transversely slotted lapping projections.

6. In shade construction, a weft unit which is approximately T-shaped in' cross section, and has transverse slots opening through the plain side and top and bottom edges. j I

7. In shade construction, a weft 'unit having on one side a projection which is receivable between other weft units, and also having projections which extend above and below said firstsnamed projection to overlap said second-named weft units, that portion of said first-named weft unit, which includes said second-named projections, be-

ing transversely slotted at suitable intervals lUi) for the. reception of warp units, the slots opening throughthe plainsideand the top and bottom edges of said first-named weft unit.

8. In shade construction, two substantially'inflexible weft units andfiexible warp units therefor, and a substantially inflexible auxiliary weft unit interwoven with said first-named weft units in said warp units, and having a part between said: first nanied'weft' units, which part on its exposed face is in approximately thesame pla-ne with-the adjacent faces of said first-named weft units.

9. In shade construction, two weft units and warp units therefor, and an auxiliary weft unit interwoven with saiddirst named weft units insaid; warn unit's,and'having parts which overlap said first named weft units o n onesid e only.

10'. In shade constructiomtwo weft' units and warp units therefor, and an auxiliary weft unit interwoven with said first named weft units in said warp units, and having parts which enter-between and overlap said first-named weft units, the exposed face of the part between the first-named weft units being in approximately the same plane with the adjacentfacesof} the first-named weft units, and the overlapping "parts being on the same side.

11. In shade construction, two substan' tially inflexible weft units and flexible warp units therefor, and a substantially inflexible auxiliary weft unit interwoven 'with said first-named weft units insaid warp units, and transversely slotted to receive the latter, therslots opening through the plain side and" the top and bottom edges of said *auxiliary weft unit, said-"auxiliary weft unit having a. part received between said first named weft units, the exposed face ofwhich part is in substantially thesame plane with the adjacent faces ofsaid first-named weft units.

12.111 shadeconstruction, two weft units and war-p units therefor, and a substantially inflexible auxiliary weft unit interwoven with said-firstz-named weft= units .in said warp units, and transversely slotted to receive the latter, the slots opening'through the plain side and the top and'bottoin edges of-said auxiliary weft unit, said auxiliary weft unit having a part received between and parts that 'overl'ap said first-named weft units, the exposedface of the part between thefirst named weft units being: in approximately the -same plane" with the adjacent faces'of the first-named weftunits, and the overlapping-parts being I on-the: same side:

13; In-shade constructioin'two we'ft units and-warp units therefor, and a transversely slotted auxiliar weft unit interwoven with said first named weft units in said warp units, and having onone side a projection that is received betweensaid first-named Warp units without'ext'endi'ng beyond the same, and projections above and below said first-named projection to overlap said firstnamed weft uni-ts, said last-named projectionsbeingon thesanie side, and said warp units passing between saidfirst-nained weft units and said first-namedprojection on said auxiliary weft" unit and through the slots in the latter.

14. In shade construction, interwoven warp and weft units, one or more of such weft units extending between, and overlappingon one side only, adjacent weft units to prevent the passage of light therebetween.

15. In shade construction, interwoven warp and weft units, one-or more of the latter-being in intervening and overlapping relation to the othersthat are immediately adjacent, but separated therefrom by said warp units, whereby light is shut out without excluding-air.

16. A slat shade comprising interwoven warp. and weft units, certain of the latter in a portion of the shade having separating, and 'lapping parts on one side only which exclude light, but being separated from adjacent weft units so as not to exclude air.

17 'Aslat' shade consisting of interwoven warp and weft units arranged to divide the shade-into ventilating, ordinary, and light excluding sections, the weft units in said first-named sect-ion being more widely separated than the weft units in said secondnanied section, and there being auxiliary weft units, in said third-named section, which cooperate with adjacent weft units to preventthe passage of light.

18. A slat shade consisting ofinterwoven warp-and weft units arranged to divide the shade into ventilating, ordinary, and light excluding sections, the weft units in said first-named section'being :IIlOIG widely separated than the weft units in said secondnamed section, and there being auxiliary weft units, in said third-named section, which" are separated from adjacent weft units, by said warp units, to admit of the passageofair, and are arranged tocooperate with-said adjacent weft units to prevent the-passage of light.

Y AZEL C. HOUGH.

WVitne'sse's DAN R. SULLivAN, J. E. FAnNswoRTH. 

